Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday launched the Rs 175-crore “Coffees of Nagaland” mission, a major initiative aimed at transforming Nagaland into a globally recognised specialty coffee destination through a cluster-based value chain development model.
The project, launched in the presence of Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region Sukanta Majumdar, seeks to strengthen the entire coffee ecosystem in the state, from cultivation and processing to branding, exports and tourism.
Pilot clusters for Arabica, Robusta coffee
Designed under a “whole-of-government” approach, the mission will initially focus on two pilot coffee clusters, Tuophema village in Kohima district for Arabica coffee and Ghotovi village in Niuland district for Robusta coffee.
Officials said the initiative aims to bridge critical gaps across the coffee value chain by integrating plantation development, post-harvest processing, digital traceability, branding, marketing and export support. The project also includes capacity building for farmers and entrepreneurs.
Launching the initiative, Scindia said the programme reflected Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Viksit North East” vision and sought to make farmers stakeholders across the entire agricultural value chain.
“This is not merely a Whole of Government approach, but truly a Whole of India approach,” the minister said, adding that governments, farmers, processors, entrepreneurs, exporters and branding experts had been brought together on a common platform.
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Focus on branding, tourism and exports
The Union minister said the mission envisages the creation of a distinct “Brand North East – Coffees of Nagaland” identity, supported through trade fairs, media outreach and experiential tourism initiatives.
The project also plans to promote coffee farm-stays and “farm-to-cup” tourism experiences to position Nagaland as a niche destination for specialty coffee tourism.
Scindia said the mission’s success would ultimately depend on securing premium shelf space for Nagaland coffee in domestic and global markets while ensuring higher and sustainable incomes for coffee-growing communities.
Chief Minister Rio described the initiative as a milestone in Nagaland’s rural development and agricultural diversification efforts. He said coffee cultivation had emerged as a viable alternative to shifting cultivation and offered long-term livelihood opportunities for farmers.
Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Sanjay Jaju said Nagaland’s agro-climatic conditions were highly suited for premium-quality Arabica and Robusta coffee. He noted that the cluster-based model would allow small farmers to benefit collectively through shared infrastructure, technical support and branding initiatives.
The government said the initiative is expected to generate sustainable livelihoods, improve farm-level value realisation and encourage greater participation of rural youth in the coffee economy.
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